Childminder in NorfolkOfsted inspection, 27 Feb 2006

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique Reference Number 256249 Inspection date 27 February 2006 Inspector Sally Ann Hubbard

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Type of inspection Childcare Type of care Childminding

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This inspection was carried out under the provisions of Part XA of the Children Act 1989, as inserted by the Care Standards Act 2000

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ABOUT THIS INSPECTION

The purpose of this inspection is to assure government, parents and the public of the quality of childcare and, if applicable, of nursery education. The inspection was carried out under Part XA Children Act 1989 as introduced by the Care Standards Act 2000 and, where nursery education is provided, under Schedule 26 of the School Standards and Framework Act 1998. This report details the main strengths and any areas for improvement identified during the inspection. The judgements included in the report are made in relation to the outcomes for children set out in the Children Act 2004; the National Standards for under 8s day care and childminding; and, where nursery education is provided, the Curriculum guidance for the foundation stage. The report includes information on any complaints about the childcare provision which Ofsted has received since the last inspection or registration or 1 April 2004 whichever is the later.

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The key inspection judgements and what they mean

Outstanding: this aspect of the provision is of exceptionally high quality Good: this aspect of the provision is strong Satisfactory: this aspect of the provision is sound Inadequate: this aspect of the provision is not good enough For more information about early years inspections, please see the booklet Are you ready for your inspection? which is available from Ofsted's website: www.ofsted.gov.uk.

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THE QUALITY AND STANDARDS OF THE CARE

On the basis of the evidence collected on this inspection:

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THE QUALITY AND STANDARDS OF THE CARE

The quality and standards of the care are good. The registered person meets the National Standards for under 8s day care and childminding.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder has been registered since 1991. She lives with her husband, two adult children and one child aged 9 years in a small village near to the towns of King’s Lynn and Wisbech. The whole of the ground floor and the bathroom on the first floor are used for childminding and there is a fully enclosed garden available for outside play. The childminder is registered to care for six children at any one time and is currently minding eight children all of whom attend on a part-time basis. The childminder walks to the local school and pre-school to take and collect children. She takes children to

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

This inspection was carried out under the provisions of Part XA of the Children Act 1989, as inserted by the Care Standards Act 2000 the local library and to the local park and on other outings. The childminder has no pets except for some fish. The childminder is a member of the Emneth Cluster of the Norfolk Childminding Network and of the National Childminding Association.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is good. Children’s health is appropriately promoted by the childminder who finds out good information about children and their needs when they first come to her; however her policy for excluding children who are sick is not clear and as a result children are not fully protected from risk of illness. Children learn about keeping healthy and good personal hygiene through thorough daily routines, such as washing their hands before eating and after toileting, with the childminder showing and teaching children how to wash their hands properly. They gain understanding because the childminder discusses with them why they need to wash their hands and talks about getting rid of germs. The childminder can respond to accidents and attend to children’s medical needs appropriately; she is trained to administer first aid and keeps suitable records about any accidents that happen and any medicines she gives to the children.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children bring their own packed lunch to the childminder’s house and enjoy the healthy snacks of fruit that the childminder provides in addition to this. They can have a drink whenever they want as their cups are always accessible to them throughout the day. Children enjoy physical play in the enclosed rear garden and the surface is suitable for use in all weathers. In addition they benefit from physical exercise as they walk to school and pre-school with the childminder and sometimes they go on outings to the local library, park and other local attractions.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. Children arrive to very welcoming premises that the childminder makes sure is safe and clean, she prepares a good range of stimulating and appropriate activities for the children before they arrive each morning. Children have sufficient space to play freely with the activities and resources and can have quiet time or rest in the living room. Activities and resources are well presented at children’s level so they are accessible; the childminder ensures these are safe, by checking they conform to standards, are sufficient in quantity and appropriate for the ages of children she is looking after. Good safety measures and a daily visual check ensures children can play safely in the childminder’s house. They know how to get out of the premises safely because they understand and practise the emergency evacuation procedure on a regular basis.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

This inspection was carried out under the provisions of Part XA of the Children Act 1989, as inserted by the Care Standards Act 2000 Children's welfare is further safeguarded and protected because the childminder has good awareness and knowledge of child protection issues and the signs and symptoms of abuse. She has the relevant referral information and contact number to hand should she need to report any concerns and the protection of the children in her care is her main priority.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is good. Children enjoy a good range and variety of activities and resources that help them develop and make progress in all areas. They are happy, relaxed and enjoy the childminder’s company, one child laughs as he responds positively to the childminder’s questions about the puzzle he is doing. Children have very good relationships with the childminder; they are well settled and feel at home in the stimulating environment. The childminder plans what activities she is going to do in the day and children are developing good independence skills as they freely choose resources they want to play with. Children benefit from the childminder’s sound knowledge and understanding of the foundation stage curriculum, which she uses in everyday situations to help children learn, such as, having discussions about the size and shape of the sandwiches at lunch time. The childminder is aware of the ‘Birth to three matters’ framework and uses this to

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

enable her to meet the needs of the younger children.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is satisfactory. Children are all treated according to their individual needs and the childminder encourages them to have positive attitudes towards everyone. She uses her good range of resources that reflect others in society to have discussions with children about how people live differently, for example, the story books about travellers. The childminder is aware that some children may have special needs and provides resources and activities that enable her to meet those needs effectively. Children behave well and show respect because the childminder provides them with a good role model; she speaks to children politely and encourages them to have good manners. She has a positive policy for behaviour management which she shares with parents. The older children understand how to behave appropriately as they help to develop some house rules, which they follow. The childminder has good partnerships with parents and exchanges information with

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Helping children make a positive contribution

them on a daily basis so that she can be aware of children’s changing needs. The childminder is able to respond appropriately to any concerns raised by parents, she has a clear policy in place and would record concerns; however she is not familiar with the new regulations regarding complaints.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

This inspection was carried out under the provisions of Part XA of the Children Act 1989, as inserted by the Care Standards Act 2000

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Organisation

The organisation is good. Children feel comfortable and at home in the childminder’s house where the space and resources are well organised to provide different areas for children to play. Children are well supervised as they play and the childminder protects them from anyone who has not been vetted; she has suitable arrangements in place with other registered childminders to provide cover in the event of an emergency. The children benefit because the childminder has good knowledge and understanding of how to provide appropriate activities to effectively meet their needs. She is suitably qualified and committed to developing her knowledge and skills by attending further training. All the required records that contribute to children’s health and wellbeing are readily available. The records are very well organised and are kept securely to maintain confidentiality. Overall the range of children’s needs are met.

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Improvements since the last inspection

At the last inspection the childminder was given two recommendations, she was asked to; ensure the record of medication given to children is signed by the parent to acknowledge the entry. Parents now acknowledge that medicine has been given to their child by signing the record, which protects children from the possibility of being given too much medicine. She also had to make available to parents a written statement that provides details of the procedure to be followed if they have a complaint. A written procedure is now in place which gives parents the phone number to ring if any concerns are not resolved appropriately by the childminder.

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Complaints since the last inspection

There have been no complaints made to Ofsted since the last inspection. The provider is required to keep a record of complaints made by parents, which they can see on request. The complaints record may contain complaints other than those made to Ofsted.

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THE QUALITY AND STANDARDS OF THE CARE

On the basis of the evidence collected on this inspection:

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THE QUALITY AND STANDARDS OF THE CARE

The quality and standards of the care are good. The registered person meets the National Standards for under 8s day care and childminding.

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WHAT MUST BE DONE TO SECURE FUTURE IMPROVEMENT?

This inspection was carried out under the provisions of Part XA of the Children Act 1989, as inserted by the Care Standards Act 2000

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The quality and standards of the care

To improve the quality and standards of care further the registered person should take account of the following recommendation(s): • develop a policy about the exclusion of children who are ill or infectious and discuss with parents • obtain and become familiar with the new complaints information and set up a system for recording any that are received.

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The quality and standards of the care

procedures set out in the leaflet Building better childcare: Compliments and concerns about inspectors' judgements which is available from Ofsted's website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

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The quality and standards of the care

This inspection was carried out under the provisions of Part XA of the Children Act 1989, as inserted by the Care Standards Act 2000

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